The Western Air Defense Sector summarizes exercises with permanent partners > National Guard > Article view

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Royal Thai Air Force and Washington’s 225th Air Defense Squadron Airmen participated in a subject matter expert exchange during Exercise Enduring Partners 2024 taking place simultaneously in the Western Air Defense Sector at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Don Muang Air Base RTAF in Thailand.

Five members of the 225th Air Defense Squadron flew to Thailand via the Washington National Guard’s 141st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker. WA ANG guards worked with RTAF weapons controllers on the ground control intercept line.

Second Lt. Matthew Dawson, 225th ADS senior director, reviewed fighter aircraft tactics and how to conduct a tactical mission briefing, and provided advice and feedback during tactical interdiction mission exercises. In return, RTAF weapons controllers helped 225th ADS controllers learn how to use the RTAF air command and control system in tactical intercept mission exercises, typically consisting of four simulated F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The Washington National Guard and Thailand have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program since 2002.

As part of the exchange, which lasted from April 30 to May 10, 30 RTAF members flew a 141st ARW KC-135 back to Washington state. Six RTAF members spent two weeks in the Western Air Defense Sector working on ground control interception.

“The goal of the training is to continue to build strong relationships while providing the RTAF with advanced command and control concepts to help them continue to develop their own tactics, techniques and procedures,” said 2nd Lt. Tyler Shoemaker, 225th ADS air battle manager.

“The first week included a discussion of the topics of air defense countermeasures, air counterattacks, tactical briefing format and mission planning,” explained 1st Lt. Micah Slifer, 225th ADS air battle manager. “The second week focused on (a) simulated defensive air defense mission planning exercises designed to increase RTAF team performance and process knowledge.”

RTAF weapons controllers used a simplified and sanitized combat control system (BCS-F) permanently installed at the new WADS Mission Training Center (MTC). BCS-F is used to surveil, identify, and control U.S. sovereign airspace and control air defense assets, including fighter aircraft, to intercept and identify potential air threats to U.S. airspace. The use of MTC enabled WADS Airmen to provide immediate feedback on ALSSA (Air Land Sea Space Application) controller communications, range mechanics and tactical capture of each scenario.

WADS Airmen showed RTAF members landmarks in Seattle such as the Seattle Space Needle and Pike’s Place Market. They also spent time hiking Mount Rainier and sampling the local cuisine.

The commander of the Washington Air National Guard explained that “In the future, Enduring Partners will be an aviation-focused exercise in Thailand one year, followed by a support-focused exercise in both Thailand and the U.S. the following year,” said Brig. Gent Welsh, commander of the Washington National Guard. “This Enduring Partners exercise is really the culmination of years of work with RTAF to get to the point where we can host a special and predictable SPP (State Partnership Program) exercise every year.